Dignity Health Awards more than $289 Thousand to Four Stockton Community Organizations

Stockton, CA - February 16, 2022 - St. Joseph's Medical Center and St. Joseph’s Behavioral Health Center have jointly awarded $289,565 in grant funding to four local community-based organizations seeking to provide health and human services to residents most in need in San Joaquin County.

“Our organizational mission, rooted in caring for the common good, is strengthened through our annual Community Grants Program." shared Sr. Abby Newton, Vice President of Mission Integration for St. Joseph’s Medical Center. "This year's award recipients are partnering with us to address the root causes of poor health outcomes and we look forward to the impact they will make through their programming."

Grant funds are used to provide services to underserved populations, specifically in priority neighborhoods identified in the tri-annual Community Health Needs Assessment. Organizations that receive grant funding are working collaboratively to address identified needs and to identify sustainable ways to continue to deliver impactful community services for the most vulnerable San Joaquin County residents.

Since the Community Grants Program’s inception in 1990, St. Joseph’s has distributed nearly $4 million in grant funding to deserving nonprofit community benefit organizations with an interest in building healthier communities by improving health and living conditions.

St. Joseph’s Medical Center annually sets aside revenues from operations to fund the community grant awards.

The following four projects were awarded funding this year, with each grant recipient working in partnership with other community organizations.

Boys & Girls Clubs at Sierra Vista: Triple Play - A Game Plan for the Mind, Body and Soul Program

Triple Play is a comprehensive health and wellness program that will provide 100 youth with the critical skills to eat smart, stay fit, and form positive relationships for a healthy future.

Black Urban Farmers Association (BUFA): The Healthy Corner Store Project

The Healthy Corner Store Project will deliver low-cost fresh, nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables weekly to corner stores in South Stockton for 12 months. BUFA will also host quarterly mobile markets with food demonstrations and health education in low access areas.

Little Manilla Rising: DAWN (Decreasing Asthma Within Neighborhoods) Project

DAWN is an asthma mitigation program that offers in-home assessments, education, and referrals for families to access both social and health care services through Community Health Workers.

The Edible Schoolyard Project:

The Edible Schoolyard will help transform a six-acre farm in South Stockton into a vibrant community garden and teaching kitchen so that students and families from across San Joaquin County can engage with food and nature in a meaningful, culturally relevant way.

For more information about Dignity Health’s Community Grants Program visit dignityhealth.org/about-us/community-health/grant-programs/community-grants. To arrange for an interview, please contact Michelle Willow at [email protected].